Weather Forecast

Gas leak prompts evacuation at Woodbury's Life Time Fitness

Woodbury firefighters were on scene this morning while Xcel Energy crews worked to contain a gas leak at Life Time Fitness.

The leak prompted a complete evacuation of the gym – more than 100 people at the time, according to Life Time workers.

The incident was first reported at 9:42 a.m. after a construction crew attempting to dig a fencepost struck the line. Natural gas was blowing for more than an hour as crews worked to shut off the 2-inch gas main that had been struck.

“It’s pretty serious,” said Woodbury Fire Cmdr. John Wallgren.

He said Xcel crews expected the leak to be contained by 11 a.m.

Wallgren said firefighters were working to clear the air of a nearby rental home that had an open window not far from the leak. Because the wind was carrying the gas in a general northward direction, the east-facing residential area was not evacuated, he added.

Mike Longaecker is the regional public safety reporter for RiverTown Multimedia. His coverage area spans St. Croix and Pierce counties. Longaecker served from 2011-2015 as editor of the Woodbury Bulletin. A University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduate, Longaecker previously reported for the Red Wing Republican Eagle and for the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau.
You can follow him on Twitter at @Longaecker